Commander Joseph Guion, U.S. Navy (Retired) served on Liberty ships in World War II as an enlisted man in Navy gun crews. After graduating in 1950 from Kings College in Wilkes Barre, PA, he received a direct commission. He served three years in destroyers and became the captain of the ocean-going tug, KIOWA. He made history by recovering the first space monkeys, Able and Baker in 1959. He commanded the Tank Landing Ship SUFFOLK COUNTY and served as Executive Officer of the destroyer STEINAKER and the President's Cold War emergency ship NORTHAMPTON. He was the captain of the destroyer ZELLARS before retiring.
He taught Business at Tidewater Community College and created processes for developing community relationships in groups. He led retreats and workshops for over twenty years, helping parish leaders to work together. He served as chairperson of the Richmond Catholic Diocesan Council and received the papal Bene Merenti medal for service to the Church.
After Commander Guion's dear wife of fifty years passed, he wrote and published Love Songs on the Journey, a book of poetry and reflections on life's travels. Their daughters, Kathy, Mary Jane, Paulette and Teresa have expanded the family with eight grandchildren and a great grandson.
Mr. Guion is working on novels based on his naval service. He is writing a fact/fiction book about the space monkeys recovery to help celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the event. He writes articles, essays and short fiction; and lives in Williamsburg, VA.
